Container



1937- L. R. ZIMMERMAN ET AL 2,067,749

CONTAINER Filed Aug. 18, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1937- L. R. ZIMMERMAN ETAL 2,067,749

CONTAINER Filed Aug. 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 12, 1937.

L. R. ZIMMERMAN ET AL CONTAINER Filed Aug. 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented Jan. 12, 1937 PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER I r Zimmerman and JonasSchuchat,

Chicago, Ill,

Application August is, 1934, Serial No. 740,390

3 Claims.

The present inventionrelates'to a self-serving display device ofcardboard material or the like and has to do particularly with memberfor supporting mechandise in the container and the structure about thedischarge orifice therein.

The objects of the invention, among others, include the provision of thefollowing:

An improved display and self-serving device having a plurality ofmagazines for holding articles of merchandise and discharging thesearticles at-a common opening;

unique counter dispensing device having a discharge opening above thebottom thereof and provided with a bottom member to support the*merchandise in a selected position adjacent such discharge opening andprojecting partly therefrom; and

A novel display and dispensing carton of sheet material having adischarge opening with reinforcing parts extending through and aboutsaid opening.

A novel means for preventing jamming of two rows of merchandise that areadapted to be discharged from a single aperture. These objects,

and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, are obtained by thenovel construction, unique arrangement, and improved combination of theseveral elements which constitute the present invention, two forms ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying four sheets of drawings,hereby made a part of this specilcation, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying one form of thepresent invention;

5 Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;,

Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank from which the main body of thedevice illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is formed;

40 v Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank for forming a partitioningmember used as shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a blank for forming an insert bottom memberof the character shown 5 in Figures l and 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the insert member formed from theblank. shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a transverse section of the inserted 50 bottom member shownin Figure 6 and is taken on the line 'i--1 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a vertical section through a container comprising a secondform of the invention and in which the .items of merchandise are 55stacked in rows two deep from front to back;

Figure 9 is a front fragmentary view of the container illustrated inFigure 8; v

Figure 10 is a plan view of a blank from which thei insert member shownin Figure 8 is made; an

Figure 11 is a schematic representation of the cycle of movements ofarticles of merchandise as discharged from the container.

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in thedrawings and throughout the 10 followingdescription of the illustratedembodiments of the invention.

The device illustrated in Figures 1 to '7 inclusive, comprises threeblanks. 'One of these is for forming the main body including the front,10 the back, the sides, the top, and the bottom. A second blank isemployed for providing partitions between the frontrand back. A thirdblank is employed for forming an insert bottom member which rests uponthe bottom of the container. 20 On the insert member, the mechandisestored within the container is seated for display and ready dispensing.

The container, partitioning member and insert are shown in Figures 1 and2. Reference 25 should be had to Figure 3, a plan view of the blank forforming the main body in container partof the device. The blankcomprises a plurality of sections. These sections form two spaced apartfront sections, two side sections, a back, 30 extensions from the frontsections and side sections which overlap or interlock to form the topand bottom of the device, and an extension from the bottom front sectionto provide a reinforcement about the lower edge of the dispensing ordischarging aperture which is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The blank shown in Figure 3 comprises a top front section III, anextension II at the top edge thereof, and tongues I2 depending from thetop edge of extension II. A bottom front section is indicated I3 and ithas a bottom section It extending therefrom, there being tabs I 5 at theside of section It, the side edges of section l4 being of irregularcontour as shown.

A section l6 extends upwardly from the section I3 and appended tosection It is a second section l1. Notches [8 are formed adjacent thebottom side edges of section l6,

Sides l9 and 20 are integral with sections I0 and i3. At the top edge ofsections l9 and 20 are top-forming extensions 2| and 22, respectively.Sections 2| and 22 each have an oblique edge, the oblique edges of thetwo sections being reversed. Sections l9 and 20 also have bottomsections are opposed and complemental.

An inverted squat U-sha'ped aperture is formed across the sections l9,|8;.and 20. The U-shaped aperture has a curved outer periphery 25 at one3 end and a second complemental and reverse curved periphery 26 at itsother end. The curved sections of the aperture are in the sections l9and 28. Such curved.section's of the aperture are connected by arelatively long and narrow slot defined at its top by the lower edge ofthe settion l8 and its bottom by the upper edge of section |1.

The back of the container is indicatedby the numeral 21. It hasa topextension 28 which terminates. in a lip 29. Section 21 has at its bottoman extension 38 in which are disposed two L-shaped slots '31. At theouter edge of section I8 is a short lip or extension 32. Scores may beused to divide the various sections herein described. For example, theremay be a score between the section 32 and section l9, another betweenthe section |9 and section 2|, and a continuation of the last referredto score between the sections l and II, 22 and 20, and 21 and 28.

Slots 28a between parts 21 and 28 to receive tongues l2 are in alignmentwith the last mentioned score.

Another score may .be disposed intermediate the sections 28 and 29, andscores may be employed between the section ll and the tabs l2. Scoresparallel with that between section l9 and 32 divide the section Ill andI9, the section I9 and 28, the sections 28 and 21.

A horizontal score separates sections 21 and 38, and also sections l3and I4, sections l3 and I8, and sections i6 and I1. Oblique scores inalinement with the adjacent edge/of section |4 separates section l4 fromthe tabs l5, and oblique scores which are opposed and complementalseparate sections l9 and 23, and sections 28 and 24.

'. The blank is assembled by folding the various sections in the mannerusually employed in box making, the outer face of section 32 having ad-'hesive applied thereto to engage the interior face of section 21. A tuberectangular in cross sec- 1 tion is thus formed. The bottom of thedevice is formed by turning inwardly the sections 23 and 24, thenturning inwardly the section 3|9 and securing at the outside thereof thesection l4, and thereafter inserting the tongues l5 into the slots 3|.

Sections l6 and H are pushed inwardly of the device, sections I6 beingmade to lay flatly against sections l3 and section H to rest upon thebottom comprising the opposed wings 23 and '24, and the members 30 and--|4. Notches I8 facilitate this step by relieving the edge of theaperture of an excess of material.

The top generally is not closed until a partitioning member, nowto bedescribed, is inserted and the container filled with merchandise. Toclose said top, sections 2| and 22 are bent inwardly, section 28 bentover the top, and section 29 inserted downwardly in proximity to therear face of section I 8. Thereafter section I l-is folded backwardlyand the tabs l2 are inserted in slots 33 in allnement with the scoreseparating the section 21 from the section 28.

Because of the obliquity of the separating section 23 from section I9and section 24, the device tilts backwardly. Upon the rear face of back21 there may be adhesively secured an easel which comprises an uppermain body 34, a lower main body 35, wings 36 and 31, and a centralsection 38 which has a wing extension 39. Two notches 4|] are cut insection 39, which is separated from section 38 by a horizontal scoreproviding a hinge therefor.

Sections 38 and 39 are of greater width than the, upper and lower mainsections 34 and 35, the section 38 being integral with the section 35,and sections 35, 38, and 34 being adhesively secured to the back ofsection 21. Vertical scores separate the sections 36 from sections 34and 35 and a parallel score separates section 31 from sections 34 and35.

The easel is made effective by turning the wings 36 and 31 normal tosection 21 and thereafter moving the section 39 downwardly to ahorizontal position. Sections 36 and 31 have notches 4| which arecomplemental to notches 48, the notches 49 and 4| providing an interlockbetween the section 39 and sections 36 and 31 to maintain the easel withthe wings 36 and 31 normal. to section 21. This position of the easel isshownin Figure 2.

Figure 4 illustrates a blank which divides the box or container formedby the previously described blank into eight parallel verticalcompartm'ents, each to hold a number of cans 42. Each of thecompartments thus formed in the present device has a capacity of threecans. The entire device thus has a capacity of twenty-four cans.

The partitioning member comprises a. shor spacer 43 of the width of acan, a transverse part 44 of the deptl'f of a can, a long spacer of thewidth of a can indicated 45, a member 46 identical with member 44 exceptreversed, a repetition of the series of parts 43, 44, 45, and 46, asecond repetition thereof, 43, 44, 45, and 46, another member 43, and amember 41, like a member 44, except that it is provided with anextension 48 to receive adhesive.

The blank comprising the several sections 43, 44, 45, 46, 41, and 48 isfolded as indicated in Figures 1 and 2 with the short spacers 43 at thefront of the device, the lower edges of the tate the removal of themerchandise and to afford a larger area of display therefor. The bottomedges of sections 44, 45, and 46 rest on an insert or bottom member nowto be described.

Figures 5, 6, and '1 illustrate the blank from which the insert bottommember is formed, a perspective thereof, and a transverse sectionthereacross.

The blank comprisesa top 49, an extension 50 at one side thereof, andend tangs or extensions 5|, the latter being opposed and having opposedand complemental oblique top edges. The tangs 5| are wider adjacenttheir sharply oblique end edges. The narrow end is slightly oblique.

From the other side of section 49 depends a narrow section 52 from whichextends a bottom member 53 having in the body thereof two U- shapedopposed slits 54. From the edges of section 53 is an extension 55 ofsubstantially the ianresiavidth as section 58 and wider than secion Fromsection 55 there is a relatively short ex- ,tension 56 which has at oneedge an extension 51, and at its other two edges, extensions 58, each ofwhich is provided with a tab 59. The ends of sections 58 are oblique,that in proximity to section 55 being more sharply oblique than that inproximity to section 51. Likewise, sections 58 are wider at theirsharply oblique edge than at their less oblique ends.

Parallelscores separate the sections 50 and 49, 49 and 52, 52 and 53, 53and 55, 55 and 56, and 56 and 51. Sections 5| are separated from section09 by scores normal to those just mentioned and section 56 is separatedfrom sections 58 by scores parallel to those separating sections 49 and5i. Slightlyoblique scores that are in alinement with theedges ofsection 58 separate the section 58 from the tabs 59.

Adhesive may be used between sections 50 and 55. The end sections 5| arenext turned over the open ends of the tube thus formed.

The insert member, is then inserted into the bottom of the device, thesection 50 contacting sections I6 and section 53 resting upon section 25IT. The ends 5I are held against opening by the material of sections I9and-20. The merchandise rests upon the section was do also the edges ofsections it, 05; and 56' of the partitioning member.

The cover of the device is brought into closing position, as previouslydescribed, after the merchandise, cans 412, has been loaded into thedevice. To load, a removable closure is applied over the front aperture.-This is removed at the time the device is put in use.

When the device is in use, that is resting uponits bottom and beingsupported by the easel at the back thereof, the merchandise 02 restsupon the insert member,and has a tendency to roll forwardly of thedevice, its forward progress being arrested by the section It which isparallel to section I3, the upper edge of which extends above the frontedge of the insert member. Thus a barrier preventing accidentaldisplacement of the merchandise is provided.

Each can may be readily removed by picking it up between the fingers, orfingers and thumb. When a can is removed, the next higher can drops intothe place made vacant but does not roll out of the device because itsprogress is arrested by the barrier I3--I6.

An inexpensive, effective display and dispensing device for a single rowof cans is thus pro-- vided. The dispenser has a distinct advantage inforcing the merchandise to project beyond the vertical edges of thefront of the device through the discharge aperture thereof. Thus, alarger area of the opposed side surfaces of the can 42 are exposed toview and this display attracts attention because of the position of themerchandise. Removal of the merchandise is extremely simple because ofthe projection of the major portion of the lowermost can through thedischarge apertures at all times,

The second form of the invention illustrated comprises a suitabledisplay carton of any preferred construction. The carton illustrated inFigures 8 to 11, inclusive, comprises a body IOI which may be formed ofany suitable material and any blank having ends I 02 and I03 that areclosed by the over lapping of the material of the front and sides orotherwise.

Within the container there may be a plurality of partitions I dividingthe container into vertical compartments so that a number of differentitems of merchandise of the same character may be stored and displayedin a single container. Adjacent to the bottom of the body IOI there is adischarge opening I which extends across the'front of the container.

The sides I06 and I0! and partition members I04 may be cut back betweenthe top and the bottom of the opening I05 to facilitate grasping itemsof merchandise stacked in the container. The opening I05 is larger fromtop to bottom than the major transverse dimension of the articles to bedispensed from the display container.

The container preferably has an inwardly directed.lip I08 which extendsfrom the lower edge of the discharge opening I04 and which provides anincline, the purpose of which will later be apparent. Lip I08 may beintegral with the frame of the box (as in the earlier described form ofthe invention) or it may be attached by adhesive or otherwise.

Within the bottom of the container is an insert member of material whichsupports the merchandise. The insert member I09 comprises a centralsection IIO having spaced apart alined longitudinally disposed slots III generally to one side of the center of said section as shown.Depending from opposed edges of and integral with the central sectionIIO are two similar or identical extensions H2 and H3.

The central section III is the top of the insert member in use and theextensions H2 and I I3 on each side thereof provide the vertical sidesof the insert member.

The next contiguous sections upon the blank form are designated H4 andH5 and each forms a fractional part of the bottom of the insert member.Depending from the bottom forming members are extensions H5 and-I I1which are of the same width as the side members H2 and H3. Members H6and II! support the insert member atits center and each has a series oftongues II8 and H9 at the edge thereof. The tongues H8 and H9 registerwith and are inserted in the slots III in the top member IIO. There is atongue upon each of the extension sections IIB and II! for eachcompartment in the container.

' of the edge of the discharge opening I05 prevents a can I20 presentedat the discharge opening from being rolled therefrom.

The inclination of the lip I08 and the elevation of the lower edge ofthe discharge member I05 are sufiicient that the pressure of the stackof cans I20 there over will not cause the lowermost member to beaccidentally discharged from the device.

When the can I20 on display is removed from the container, the entirefront row of cans I20 drops down as shown in Figure 11. When the nextcan I20 is removed the front row again drops. When the first can wasremoved, the top member of the rear row of cans changed its positionfrom over the second or back row to one substantially in the center ofthe merchandise compartment such can resting equally on the topmost canof both stacks of merchandise. When thesecond can I20 is removed throughopening I05, the centrally disposed top can becomes the top member ofthe front row of cans. Removal of the next item of merchandise causesthe front row to again drop and the top member of the back row to assumea position supported equally by the topmost back and topmostfrontmembers. The removal of the next succeeding item of merchandisecauses the front row to again drop and the topmost member falls into thefront row. This cycle continues until there is but one item ofmerchandise left in the device, that being the lowermost back member,which is held in position'by the tongues H8 and H9.

Without the tongues I I8 and I I9 the merchandise quickly would becomejumbled. There would be no orderly discharge of the items. In manyinstances there would be such confusion that the merchandise would clog.By holding the lowermost back can I20 at the rear of the device there isno tendency for this member to advance to the front of the display,device and produce: confusion. The height of the tongues is an importantfactor although not a critical one and should be adjusted according tothe characterof the merchandise to be dispensed, i. e., the diameter ofthe can which is laid upon its side, and how much of the front can I20is to be forced up lip I08. I

The height .of opening I is 'such that the rearmost lower can I20 mayroll slightly forward to force the lowermost front can I20 slightly outof aperture I05. The opening, if no higher than the diameter of the can;would tend to unduly retard the movement of the front row of cans. Byenlarging the aperture I05 slightly, this 'binding or retarding effectis overcome.

Where hereinabove cans have been mentioned any cylindrical or tubularobject is meant. A tongue forholding the rear lowermost object has beendescribed. Any other means such as depressed seat for such can may besubstituted chandise supporting member comprising a tubu-- lar membertrapezoidal in cross section and extending from side to side oi saidcontainer, the front of said container having adjacent the dischargeaperture therein an extension of material that is folded inwardly toprovide a support for said trapezoidal merchandise supporting member.

2. The dispensing device described in claim '1, and in which the uppersurface of said merchandise supporting member is in a plane beneath thelower edge of the discharge aperture in the front of'said container.

3. The device described in claim 1, and in which said trapezoidal insertmember has its edge of greatest height at the front of said device, andthe top surface of the trapezoidal merchandise supporting member is'in'aplane parallel with a' supporting surface for saiddevice, the plane ofthe top surface of said trapezoidal member being belowthe plane of theedge of the discharge aperture in the front' of said device.

' LESTER R. ZIMMERMAN.

JONAS SCHUCHAT.

